Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

To Olympius. 2437
Letter CXXXI. 2436
1. Truly unexpected tidings make both ears tingle. This is my case. These compositions
against me, which are being carried about, have fallen upon ears by this time pretty well
seasoned, on account of my having formerly received the letter, appropriate enough to my
sins, but which I should never have expected to be written by those who sent it. Nevertheless
what followed did seem to me so extraordinarily cruel as to blot out all that had gone before.
How could I fail to be driven almost out of my senses when I read the letter addressed to
the reverend brother Dazinas, full of outrageous insults and calumnies and of attacks against
me, as though I had been convicted of much pernicious designs against the Church?
Moreover proofs were forthwith offered of the truth of the calumnies against me, from the
document of whose authorship I am ignorant. Parts I recognise, I own, as having been
written by Apollinarius of Laodicea. These I had purposely not even ever read, but I had
heard of them from the report of others. Other portions I found included, which I had
never either read or heard of from any one else; of the truth of this there is a faithful witness
in heaven. How then can men who shun lies, who have learnt that love is the fulfilling of
the law, who profess to bear the burdens of the weak, have consented to bring these calumnies
against me and to condemn me out of other men’s writings? I have often asked myself this
question, but I cannot imagine the reason, unless it be, as I have said from the beginning,
that my pain in all this is a part of the punishment which is due to my sins.
2. First of all I sorrowed in soul that truths were lessened by the sons of men; in the
second place I feared for my own self, lest in addition to my other sins, I should become a
misanthrope, believing no truth and honour to be left in any man; if indeed those whom I
have most greatly trusted are proved to be so disposed both to me and to the truth. Be sure
then, my brother, and every one who is a friend of the truth, that the composition is not
mine; I do not approve of it, for it is not drawn up according to my views. Even if I did
write, a good many years ago, to Apollinarius or to any one else, I ought not to be blamed.
I find no fault myself if any member of any society has been cut off into heresy (and you
know perfectly well whom I mean though I mention nobody by name), because each man
will die in his own sin.
This is my reply to the document sent me, that you may know the truth, and make it
plain to all who wish not to hold the truth in unrighteousness. If it prove necessary to defend
2436 Placed in 373.
2437 cf. Letters xii. and xiii.
To Olympius.
576